Even the animals were cold on a night like this, Ragnar thought. Absent, he touched his wolfish companion and scratched Snowfoot behind one of his white ears. The animal was content and snuggled up against him. The wolf and the Arc Chief stared together at the silently falling snow framed by the craggy semicircle of the entrance to Ragnar's cave.
One thing Ragnar, the leader of the Ice Wolf Clans, had lived in a pleasant climate. He'd waved his hammer in the sunlight and squinted when the light broke through the metal and spurted red human blood. Once he had felt allied with all his people, not just his clan. They had stood side by side, a proud wave of death that raced over the hills at lightning speed and swept people away. Together they sat by the fires, laughing uproariously and telling each other stories of glorious battles, while the children dozed beside the dying embers and dreamed of heroic deeds.But now the handful of demons that made up the Icewolf clan froze alone in their exile in the Alterac Mountains of this strange world. Her only friends were the great white wolves. They were very different from the huge black wolves Ragnar's people had once ridden, but a wolf was a wolf no matter the color of its fur. With determined patience and Draenor's strength, they had got the animals on their side. Now Arc and Wolf hunted together and kept each other warm during the long snowy nights.
Ragnar turned when a low sobbing sound came from inside the cave. His hard face, marked by years of worry and anger, softened at the sound. His little daughter, who was named until her name day, had cried while she was being fed.
Leaving Snowfoot to contemplate the snow, Ragnar went back into the inner chamber. Felis had exposed one breast so the child could suckle it, and had just removed it.That was probably why it had cried. Felis stuck out her index finger. Her sharp nail poked her deep into the chest before she let the little head of her child against her chest again. Her face showed no signs of pain, but the kindness and joy she showed her daughter was clearly visible. Now the child took in not only the nutritious breast milk, but also the blood of its mother. This was the right nourishment for a healthy, strong warrior who would later take the place of Ragnar as the daughter of Ragnar as chief of the ice wolf clan.
Ragnar's heart was filled with love for this woman - this warrior who was in no way inferior in courage and cunning - and for the healthy daughter she had borne him.
But then the knowledge spread in him that the time had come to act. He sat down and sighed heavily.
Felis looked at him and her bright green eyes narrowed. She knew him all too well.He didn't want to tell her about his sudden decision, even if he knew it was the right one. But now he had no choice.
"We have a child now," he said and his voice came darkly from his broad chest.
"Yes," answered Felis proudly. "A good, strong daughter who will lead the Ice Wolf Clan when her father is gloriously killed in his last battle. Some time in many years."
"I am responsible for your future," continued the great wolf demon, while he plucked his black pelts against his pale skin. He knew he had her full attention now. At that moment Ragnar realized once again how beautiful his mate was, the fire in the cave flattered her delicate but powerful figure. He wanted to burn the sight into his mind before continuing. "If I hadn't turned against Mog'Natal, our daughter would grow up with more playmates. We would still be valued members of the clans."Felis growled and showed her mate her teeth to express her displeasure, "You wouldn't be the mate because I would have liked to be by my side had you not acted like that." how our people are led to the slaughter like the sheep of men. After all that you have learned, you had to rise, dearest. If you had not done that, you would not have the right to call yourself chief. "
Ragnar nodded to her true words, "Mog'Natal just wanted to increase his power and shamefully abuses our people for his own ends."
He remembered the shock and overwhelming anger when he learned of the Shadow Council and Mog'Natal's betrayal. He tried to convince the others of the impending danger. They had been used like chess pieces to destroy the karsen which he now knew didn't deserve to be exterminated.
And the trip to this country, too, was the decision of the Shadow Council and not that of the Arcs.And all just for Mog'Natal's lust for power. How many of the proud demons had died fighting for him, for something so empty. Ragnar shuddered.
"I spoke against him and we were exiled. Me and everyone who believed me. It's a shame."
"Mog'Natal's shame" interrupted in Felis, "Your people are free now, Ragnar. This place is ruthless, but we have the ice wolves as companions, our people honor and maintain the ancient traditions and our children are born and live as free beings.
Ragnar bowed his head. "They deserve more. Everyone here deserves more and I'll give it to them."
He straightened up to his whole huge form. His huge shadow fell over woman and child. Felis' shocked look and the nervous movements of her white, black striped tail betrayed that she already knew what he wanted to say. Even so, it had to be pronounced in order to become an irrevocable oath.
"There were some who listened to me, even if they still had doubts.I will return and convince them, and they will lead their people into battle. We will no longer be the slaves of the sorcerers. We will not be lost or forgotten in battles that only served them. This I swear - I Ragnar Rok, Chief of the Ice Wolf Clan! "
He leans his head back and opened his fangs-tipped mouth, almost impossible wide. He rolled his eyes as a deafening, deep and furious scream left his throat.
The baby started crying and even Felis winced. The scream of the oath, he knew even if the snow dampened the scream, all members of the clan would hear it and gather in front of his cave to find out the reason for the scream. And then they would scream too.
"You will not go alone dear," said Felis. Her soft voice contrasted sharply with the deafening roar of Ragnar's scream of oath. "We will come with you.""I forbid it!"
With a speed that surprised even Ragnar, Felis suddenly stood in front of him. Just a heartbeat later, Ragnar blinked as a pain hit him and blood ran down his face. It had torn a deep scratch on his cheek. "I am Felis, the daughter of Rhakish, the son of Otan! Nobody forbids me to follow my companion, not even Ragnar himself. I stay with you and will die if I have to. Pah!" furiously she spat on the floor.
At that moment, as Ragnar wiped the blood from his cheek, his heart almost overflowed with the love he felt for this being. Had there ever been a happier man? He couldn't imagine.
Even though Orson Darkscythe and his clan would have ended up in exile, Mog'Natal would have heard of it, the great warlord would welcome Ragnar and his family to his encampment. However, he viewed the wolf with suspicion, but this was mutual.The night seemed a little cool to Darkscythe itself, which is why he amused himself when his guests took off some of their black furs and complained about the heat. The swamps were very different from the icy mountains of Alcerast.
Ragnar had chosen a good time for his secret visit. "I'm sorry that I'm putting your clan in danger" were his first words.
Darkscythe waved off "Death should come if it wants, we will receive it with honor."
He gave his guests food and drink. The growing little demon also greedily licked the sticky liquid from her mother's fingers.
"A good strong daughter," Darkscythe nodded.
"Yes," Ragnar smiled, "She'll be a good leader for my clan. Unfortunately, I didn't come so you could admire my daughter. I want to tell you about Mog'Natal's machinations. Listen and make your own judgment, old friend"
Quietly so that the guards wouldn't hear, Ragnar began to tell.He shared everything he knew about trading with the Demon Lords ... about the obscene source of Mog'Natal's power ... and the betrayal of the Shadow Council.
Darkscythe listened with an unmoved face, but in his chest his heart was pounding as hard as his scythe used to pound his opponents. From any other mouth he would have found these words a lie, but it was an old friend who spoke to him here. He had gone into exile for these words, and that gave them weight. He slowly bit into a large leg of lamb and chewed on the meat. His thoughts chased him back and forth but for him there was only one end. It had to be the truth.
"I believe you, friend. And trust me, I will not just take Mog'Natal's deeds on myself. For my people I will fight the darkness together with you." Ragnar stretched out his hand, and Darkscythe took it. "Unfortunately you can't stay in this camp for long even if it would be an honor for me, but I have a cave for you where you will be safe.We'll hunt down Mog'Natal together, friend. "

The guard said nothing as they led the visitors to the secret location. Ragnar could already hear the babbling of the brook "Felis, I knew my old friend could be relied upon. It won't be long before ..."
Ragnar froze. A sound that drowned this out from the brook had caught his attention ... The cracking of a branch under a heavy foot.
He yelled and grabbed his hammer, but they were already there. He heard Felis' shrill battle cry as they attacked. From the corner of his eye he saw how Snowfoot jumped at an opponent and brought him down.
They had crept up without pride, worms to whom the honor of a demon meant nothing. But there were many worms and they were everywhere, and while their mouths remained closed in unnatural silence, their weapons spoke a powerful language.
An ax dug deep into Ragnar's thigh and dropped him. The enemy rushed towards him.He could just put his strong hands around his neck and squeeze hard. Now the worm was still showing